England’s semi-final against Japan in Edmonton is the biggest World Cup tie at senior level since Gazza shed tears like a garden ­sprinkler and Chris Waddle sent his fateful penalty into orbit in Turin 25 years ago.

Houghton did not need hyperbole when she assessed her chances of emulating Moore by leading her country into the World Cup final and said: “This is the biggest match in the history of women’s football in England.”

If 1990 was the summer we fell in love with the communal anguish of watching England at the World Cup down the pub, then 2015 will go down as the year we stayed up half the night to hear the ­Lionesses roar.